Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Given that this is the last economy spokesperson's questions before the summer recess and that many of us will be engaging with the hospitality sector in one way or another, I thought we'd take a look at that sector. The picture for hospitality continues to be fairly uncertain. As I'm sure the Minister is aware, not only have we had the shortages in staff, but the...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that answer, Minister, and I'd very much appreciate an update on that front. Of course, as I mentioned, there are several reasons for the shortage of staff in hospitality. From experience, wages in hospitality need to improve, their work-life balance element needs to improve, security of work, and, as well, workplace conditions need to improve, as we've seen in the recent...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you for that response, Minister.
Luke Fletcher: The reality is that child poverty has remained alarmingly high over the past decade. Whilst my colleague Liz Saville Roberts raised with the Prime Minister in Prime Minister's questions today that he should scrap the two-child limit and reinstate the £20 uplift for all families entitled to welfare—by the way, I have to say, it was another poor response from him on this issue—I am keen to...
Luke Fletcher: To start, when tackling the climate crisis, we can't focus solely on decarbonisation of the economy. It is an important part, yes, but we also need wider change in how our economy works and how we go about our day-to-day lives. We need a substantial transformation and reorganisation of the current economic system to effectively tackle climate change and respond to the consequences of the...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd dros dro. I'll keep it short. I understand that the Government is being pulled in all different directions by Members on what they should be spending on, and there are a number of priorities to consider. I would like to make the case for increasing the payments of the education maintenance allowance. It was a massive relief to families when it was introduced back in...
Luke Fletcher: For me, knowing now, especially now given the cost-of-living crisis, that free school meals will be universal in primary schools is a moment of reflection, a moment to remember my own experiences in school, and a moment to remember as well the long battle to get to this point in the first place. I am proud that Plaid Cymru has never given up on this policy. Looking at the current situation,...
Luke Fletcher: I'm not denying that at all.
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to thank the Members and the Minister who contributed to this debate. Today, we've heard lots of stats, figures and accounts that set out the terrifying scale of the cost-of-living crisis, but none of this can truly capture or describe the impact of this deprivation and destitution on those who are experiencing it. More than four in 10 Welsh adults—that's 43...
Luke Fletcher: Okay, well, clearly you weren't listening well enough, Gareth, because Sioned had mentioned that in her contribution. I would just say, stop deflecting all the time. We've seen a Prime Minister advocate for trickle-down economics, tax cuts, removing the cap on bankers' bonuses, and, by the way, no windfall tax at all on energy companies, who are making billions while people see their bills go...
Luke Fletcher: Of course.
Luke Fletcher: Da iawn, Mike. Just one more to add to the list of demands that Plaid Cymru are asking for. I'll finish on this. Jokingly, in a seminar I had in uni with Richard Wyn Jones, he said that perhaps there should be a statue of Thatcher outside the Senedd—I will ask Members to stick with me on this one for the time being. [Laughter.] Thatcher was no doubt a contributing factor to devolution being...
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I’ve said it several times already: the introduction of free school meals is a massive step in the right direction, particularly given the challenges people are now facing. Of course, I’d like to see it rolled out to comprehensive and further education colleges, but this isn’t to detract from what is an ambitious undertaking in the first place. It’s something...
Luke Fletcher: Plaid Cymru has long argued the case that council tax is in need of reform. It's outdated, it's regressive, and the IFS recognises this. The proposals jointly agreed by Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government are the first step in changing the council tax system to one that is fairer and more progressive whilst still supporting the services delivered by local authorities. But, with the...
Luke Fletcher: Thank you, Minister, for the statement.
Luke Fletcher: In response to the Minister's last statement on regional economic development in January this year, I brought up my concerns about a lack of energy projects being identified in some of the frameworks, especially in light of the cost-of-living crisis and the rising fuel poverty that exists in Wales. This was only at the very beginning of this crisis. Our post-industrial areas are really being...
Luke Fletcher: How is the Welsh Government working with HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities to ensure that financial support schemes designed to assist people with the rising cost of living do not impact any means-tested benefits?
Luke Fletcher: Diolch, Llywydd, and I move the amendment tabled by Siân Gwenllian. We have a unique opportunity this year to learn from Wales's participation in the world cup and to build on Wales's growing presence on the global stage, as well as honing our ability to effectively reap the economic benefits of major events like this to Wales. We also have some amazing Welsh-born events, such as the...
Luke Fletcher: Will you take an intervention?
Luke Fletcher: I've heard you refer to houses as 'assets' twice already. Isn't this the crux of the problem with this issue, that houses are being viewed as assets? Houses are homes for families. Will you not accept that?
